rights or privileges relating to membership or any other issues.4
. Decision on granting Observer status to a State, member of the United Nations, will be taken by the Council of Foreign Ministers by consensus only and on the basis of the agreed criteria by the Council of Foreign Ministers.
. Decision on granting Observer status to an international organisation will be taken by the Council of Foreign Ministers by consensus only and on the basis of the agreed criteria by the Council of Foreign Ministers.
5Organs of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation shall consist of:
Islamic Summit
Council of Foreign Ministers
Standing Committees
Executive Committee
International Islamic Court of Justice
Independent Permanent Commission of Human Rights
Committee of Permanent Representatives
General Secretariat
Subsidiary Organs
Specialized Institutions
Affiliated Institutions
Summit
6Islamic Summit is composed of Kings and Heads of State and Government of Member States and is the supreme authority of the Organisation.7Islamic Summit shall deliberate, take policy decisions and provide guidance on all issues pertaining to the realization of the objectives as provided for in the Charter and consider other issues of concern to the Member States and the Ummah.8
. The Islamic Summit shall convene every three years in one of the Member States.
. The Preparation of the Agenda and all necessary arrangements for the convening of the Summit will be done by the Council of Foreign Ministers with the assistance of the General Secretariat.9Sessions will be held, whenever the interests of Ummah warrant it, to consider matters of vital importance to the Ummah and coordinate the policy of the Organisation accordingly. An Extraordinary Session may be held at the recommendation of the Council of Foreign Ministers or on the initiative of one of the Member States or the Secretary-General, provided that such initiative obtains the support of simple majority of the Member States.
of Foreign Ministers
10
. The Council of Foreign Ministers shall be convened once a year in one of the Member States.
. An Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers may be convened at the initiative of any Member State or of the Secretary-General if such initiative is approved by a simple majority of the Member States.
. The Council of Foreign Ministers may recommend convening other sectorial Ministerial meetings to deal with the specific issues of concern to the Ummah.Such meetings shall submit their reports to the Islamic Summit and the Council of Foreign Ministers.
. The Council of Foreign Ministers shall consider the means for the implementation of the general policy of the Organisation by:. Adopting decisions and resolutions on matters of common interest in the implementation of the objectives and the general policy of the Organisation;. Reviewing progress of the implementation of the decisions and resolutions adopted at the previous Summits and Councils of Foreign Ministers;. Considering and approving the programme, budget and other financial and administrative reports of the General Secretariat and Subsidiary Organs;. Considering any issue affecting one or more Member States whenever a request to that effect by the Member State concerned is made with a view to taking appropriate measures in that respect;. Recommending to establish any new organ or committee;. Electing the Secretary General and appointing the Assistant Secretaries General in accordance with Articles 16 and 18 of the Charter respectively;. Considering any other issue it deems fit.
Committees
11
. In order to advance issues of critical importance to the Organisation and its Member States, the Organisation has formed the following Standing Committees:. Al Quds Committee. Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC). Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC). Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH).
Committee
organisation islamic international
Article 12Executive Committee is comprised of the Chairmen of the current, preceding and succeeding Islamic Summits and Councils of Foreign Ministers, the host country of the Headquarters of the General Secretariat as well as the Secretary-General as an exofficio member. The Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be conducted according to its Rules of Procedure.
of Permanent Representatives
13prerogatives and modes of operation of the Committee of Permanent Representatives shall be defined by the Council of Foreign Ministers.
Islamic Court of Justice
14International Islamic Court of Justice established in Kuwait in 1987 shall, upon the entry into force of its Statute, be the principal judicial organ of the Organisation.
Permanent Commission on Human Rights
15Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights shall promote the civil, political, social and economic rights enshrined in the organisations covenants and declarations and in universally agreed human rights instruments, in conformity with Islamic values.
Secretariat
16General Secretariat shall comprise a Secretary-General, who shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Organisation and such staff as the Organisation requires. The Secretary-General shall be elected by the Council of Foreign Ministers for a period of five years, renewable once only. The Secretary-General shall be elected from among nationals of the Member States in accordance with the principles of equitable geographical distribution, rotation and equal opportunity for all Member States with due consideration to competence, integrity and experience.17Secretary General shall assume the following responsibilities:. bring to the attention of the competent organs of the Organisation matters which, in his opinion, may serve or impair the objectives of the Organisation;. follow-up the implementation of decisions, resolutions and recommendations of the Islamic Summits, and Councils of Foreign Ministers and other Ministerial meetings;. provide the Member States with working papers and memoranda, in implementation of the decisions, resolutions and recommendations of the Islamic Summits and the Councils of Foreign Ministers;. coordinate and harmonize, the work of the relevant Organs of the Organisation;. prepare the programme and the budget of the General Secretariat; f. promote communication among Member States and facilitate consultations and exchange of views as well as the dissemination of information that could be of importance to Member States;. perform such other functions as are entrusted to him by the Islamic Summit or the Council of Foreign Ministers;. submit annual reports to the Council of Foreign Ministers on the work of the Organisation.18
. The Secretary-General shall submit nominations of Assistant Secretaries General to the Council of Foreign Ministers, for appointment, for a period of 5 years in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution and with due regard to the competence, integrity and dedication to the objectives of the Charter. One post of Assistant Secretary General shall be devoted to the cause of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and Palestine with the understanding that the State of Palestine shall designate its candidate.
. The Secretary-General may, for the implementation of the resolutions and decisions of the Islamic Summits and the Councils of Foreign Ministers, appoint Special Representatives. Such appointments along with mandates of the Special Representatives shall be made with the approval of the Council of Foreign Ministers.
. The Secretary-General shall appoint the staff of the General Secretariat from among nationals of Member States, paying due regard to their competence, eligibility, integrity and gender in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution. The Secretary-General may appoint experts and consultants on temporary basis.19the performance of their duties, the Secretary-General, Assistant Secretaries General and the staff of the General Secretariat shall not seek or accept instructions from any government or authority other than the Organisation. They shall refrain from taking any action that may be detrimental to their position as international officials responsible only to the Organisation. Member States shall respect this exclusively international character, and shall not seek to influence them in any way in the discharge of their duties.20General Secretariat shall prepare the meetings of the Islamic Summits and the Councils of Foreign Ministers in close cooperation with the host country insofar as administrative and organizational matters are concerned.21Headquarters of the General Secretariat shall be in the city of Jeddah until the liberation of the city of Al-Quds so that it will become the permanent Headquarters of the Organisation.22Organisation may establish Subsidiary Organs, Specialized Institutions and grant affiliated status, after approval of the Council of Foreign Ministers, in accordance with the Charter.Organs23organs are established within the framework of the Organisation in accordance with the decisions taken by the Islamic Summit or Council of Foreign Ministers and their budgets shall be approved by the Council of Foreign Ministers.
Institutions
24institutions of the Organisation are established within the framework of the Organisation in accordance with the decisions of the Islamic Summit or Council of Foreign Ministers. Membership of the specialized institutions shall be optional and open to members of the Organisation. Their budgets are independent and are approved by their respective legislative bodies stipulated in their Statute.
Institutions
25institutions are entities or bodies whose objectives are in line with the objectives of this Charter, and are recognized as affiliated institutions by the Council of Foreign Ministers. Membership of the institutions is optional and open to organs and institutions of the Member States. Their budgets are independent of the budget of the General Secretariat and those of subsidiary organs and specialized institutions. Affiliated institutions may be granted observer status by virtue of a resolution of the Council of Foreign Ministers. They may obtain voluntary assistance from the subsidiary organs or specialized institutions as well as from Member States.
with Islamic and other Organizations
26Organisation will enhance its cooperation with the Islamic and other Organizations in the service of the objectives embodied in the present Charter.Settlement of Disputes
27Member States, parties to any dispute, the continuance of which may be detrimental to the interests of the Islamic Ummah or may endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, seek a solution by good offices, negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement or other peaceful means of their own choice. In this context good offices may include consultation with the Executive Committee and the Secretary-General.28Organisation may cooperate with other international and regional organisations with the objective of preserving international peace and security, and settling disputes through peaceful means.
& Finance
29
. The budget of the General Secretariat and Subsidiary Organs shall be borne by Member States proportionate to their national incomes.
. The Organisation may, with the approval of the Islamic Summit or the Council of Foreign Ministers, establish special funds and endowments (waqfs) on voluntary basis as contributed by Member States, individuals and Organisations.These funds and endowments shall be subjected to the Organisations financial system and shall be audited by the Finance Control Organ annually.30General Secretariat and subsidiary organs shall administer their financial affairs according to the Financial Rules of Procedure approved by the Council of Foreign Ministers.31
. A Permanent Finance Committee shall be set up by the Council of Foreign Ministers from the accredited representatives of the participating Member States which shall meet at the Headquarters of the Organisation to finalize the programme and budget of the General Secretariat and its subsidiary organs in accordance with the rules approved by the Council of Foreign Ministers.
. The Permanent Finance Committee shall present an annual report to the Council of Foreign Ministers which shall consider and approve the programme and budget.
. The Finance Control Organ comprising financial/auditing experts from the Member States shall undertake the audit of the General Secretariat and its subsidiary organs in accordance with its internal rules and regulations.
of Procedure and Voting
32
. The Council of Foreign Ministers shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
. The Council of Foreign Ministers shall recommend the rules of procedures of the Islamic Summit.
. The Standing Committees shall establish their own respective rules of procedure.33
. Two-third of the Member States shall constitute the quorum for the meetings of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
. Decisions shall be taken by consensus. If consensus cannot be obtained, decision shall be taken by a two-third majority of members present and voting unless otherwise stipulated in this Charter.
Provisions
and Immunities34
. The Organisation shall enjoy in the Member States, immunities and privileges as necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfilment of its objectives.
. Representatives of the Member States and officials of the Organisation shall enjoy such privileges and immunities as stipulated in the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of 1976.
. The staff of the General Secretariat, subsidiary organs and specialised institutions shall enjoy privileges and immunities necessary for the performance of their duties as may be agreed between the Organisation and host countries.
. A Member State which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization shall have no vote in the Council of Foreign Ministers if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years. The Council may, nevertheless, permit such a Member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member.
35
. Any Member State may withdraw from the Organisation by notifying the Secretary-General one year prior to its withdrawal. Such a notification shall be communicated to all Member States.
. The State applying for withdrawal shall be bound by its obligations until the end of the fiscal year during which the application for withdrawal is submitted. It shall also settle any other financial dues it owes to the Organisation.
36to the present Charter shall take place according to the following procedure:. Any Member State may propose amendments to the present Charter to the Council of Foreign Ministers;. When approved by two-third majority of the Council of Foreign Ministers and ratified by a two-third majority of the Member States, it shall come into force.37
. Any dispute that may arise in the interpretation, application or implementation of any Article in the present Charter shall be settled cordially, and in all cases through consultation, negotiation, reconciliation or arbitration;
. The provisions of this Charter shall be implemented by the Member States in conformity with their constitutional requirements.38of the Organisation shall be Arabic, English and French. Transitional Arrangement39
. This Charter shall be adopted by the Council of Foreign Ministers by two-third majority and shall be open for signature and ratification by Member States in accordance with the constitutional procedures of each Member State.
. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Organisation.
. This Charter replaces the Charter of the Organisation of The Islamic Conference which was registered in conformity with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations on February 1, 1974.at the city of Dakar (Republic of Senegal), the Seventh day of Rabi Al-Awal, One Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty-nine Hijra, corresponding to Fourteenth day of March Two Thousand and Eight.